Vibratory fruit harvester

Abstract

A harvesting apparatus for plants grown in rows, such as grapes, includes a vehicle having a support frame of an inverted U-shape and a shaker frame that also has an inverted U-shape and that is pivotally mounted to the vehicle support frame about a single axis that is parallel to the direction of travel of the vehicle. Striker bars are rigidly attached in spaced, opposing and parallel relation at the lower end of the shaker frame and at a height above ground level to engage the trunk of the plants. A non-positive oscillatory drive mechanism is attached to the upper end of the shaker frame to rock the frame about the single pivot axis to cause the striker bars to alternately impact opposite sides of the trunks. The drive mechanism consists of two eccentric weights rotatably mounted to the shaker frame above and equidistantly spaced from the pivot axis so that the center of gravity of the shaker frame, weights and other elements attached to the shaker frame is approximately coincidental with the pivot axis. The shaker frame includes frame sections adapted to scissor about the pivot axis so that the distance between the striker bars is greater than the diameters of the trunks to permit continuous harvesting, and a grape collection and conveyance system is also provided on the vehicle below the shaker frame.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In a harvesting apparatus that includes a vehicle movable to a position adjacent the plant to be harvested, said vehicle including a support frame, a shaker assembly mounted to said vehicle support frame for shaking the trunk of a plant to dislodge crops therefrom comprising: a shaker frame, means connected to said support frame for mounting said shaker frame for pivoting about a single axis that is overhead the plant to be shaken, said shaker frame including first and second frame sections that extend downwardly of said axis of rotation in substantially fixed relation to each other and that terminate in outer ends, striker members connected to said outer ends in opposing relation, and drive means separate and distinct from said striker members and being connected thereto only through said shaker frame for oscillating said shaker frame as a single unit about said axis to cause said striker members to alternately impact the opposite sides of the trunk of said plant, said drive means being connected to said shaker frame at a height situated generally above said plant. 
     
     
       2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first and second frame sections are adjustably scissorable relative to each other, and said shaker frame includes means for adjustably securing said first and second frame sections so that said striker members may be positioned at various fixed distances from each other. 
     
     
       3. A harvesting apparatus of the type adapted to shake the trunks of plants comprising: a vehicle movable to a position adjacent a plant to be harvested; said vehicle including a support frame, a shaker assembly mounted to said vehicle support frame for vibrating the trunk of the plant; said shaker assembly including a shaker frame and means for pivotally mounting said shaker frame to said vehicle frame to rotate about a single horizontal axis that overlies the plant; said shaker frame including a frame section that extends generally downwardly of said axis, a striker member connected to said frame section at the lower end thereof and adapted to strike the trunk of said plant, and a pair of eccentric weight means rotatably mounted to said shaker frame at positions that are equidistantly spaced from said axis; said eccentric weight means being separate and distinct from said striker member and being connected thereto only through said shaker frame; and means for simultaneously rotating said first and second eccentric weight means at a selected speed and with a predetermined phase relationship to each other to cause the shaker frame to rock laterally about said axis to thereby cause the striker member to repeatedly strike the trunk of the plant at a selected frequency. 
     
     
       4. A harvesting apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said shaker frame has a predetermined center of gravity that is approximately coincident with said axis of rotation. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus for harvesting row crops such as grape vines including a vehicle, said vehicle including a support frame that is elevated above the plants to be harvested so that the harvester vehicle may be driven over the row of plants to be harvested, and a shaker frame pivotally suspended from said vehicle frame for vibrating the trunks of the plants, means for pivotally mounting said shaker frame to said vehicle support frame for pivoting about a single axis that extends in the direction of movement of the vehicle, said shaker frame including opposing elongate arm poritions that extend downwardly of said axis, each arm portion terminating in an end that is distal from said axis, a pair of elongate striker members that are transversely spaced and that are respectively connected to said distal ends of said arm portions, oscillatory drive means mounted on said shaker frame and isolated from said vehicle support frame for causing said shaker frame to rock laterally from side to side to cause said striker members to alternately impact the trunks of the plants, said oscillatory drive means being separate and distinct from said striker members and being connected to said striker members only through said shaker frame arm portions, said shaker frame and drive means having a center of gravity that is relatively close to said axis of rotation. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said opposing arm portions are adjustably scissorable relative to each other, and said shaker frame including means for adjustably rigidly securing said arm portions to each other during harvesting. 
     
     
       7. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said drive means includes a pair of shafts, means for rotatably connecting said shafts to said shaker frame in parallel relation to said axis of rotation and at equal transverse distances from said axis of rotation, eccentric weight means mounted upon said shafts, and means positively connected to said shafts for rotating said shafts to cause said eccentric weight means on said shafts to rotate at a predetermined phase relationship to each other to cause said shaker frame to rock about said axis of rotation. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus for harvesting crops from plants comprising: a vehicle, said vehicle including a support frame that is elevated above a plant to be harvested, a generally rigid shaker frame, means for pivotally attaching said shaker frame to said vehicle frame to enable the shaker frame to pivot back and forth about a single axis that extends longitudinally of the vehicle above the plant to be harvested, striker members attached at the lowermost end of said shaker frame in a transversely spaced relation and at a height adapted to engage opposite sides of the plant, said shaker frame having a configuration between said striker members and said axis of rotation to permit the plant to pass therethrough as the vehicle is driven over said plant, and oscillatory drive means mounted on said shaker frame and substantially isolated from said support frame for rocking the shaker frame about said axis to cause the striker members to alternately impact the plant to thereby shake said plant and dislodge crops from said plant, said oscillatory drive means being separate and distinct from said striker members and being connected to said striker members only through said shaker frame. 
     
     
       9. The harvesting apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said drive means is located entirely above the plant to be shaken thereby protecting said drive means from contact with the crops being harvested. 
     
     
       10. The harvesting apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said shaker frame includes a pair of frame sections that are adjustably scissorable relative to each other, said striker members being respectively attached to the lower ends of said frame sections, and means for adjustably securing said frame sections so that said striker members are adjustably maintained at a selected distance from each other. 
     
     
       11. The harvesting apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said drive means includes a pair of eccentric weight means that are each rotatably mounted to said shaker frame for rotation about respective axes that are equidistant from and parallel to said axis of rotation of the shaker frame, and means for driving said eccentric weight means at the same speed and at a predetermined fixed phase relationship relative to each other to cause said shaker frame to pivot back and forth as said eccentric weight means are driven through complete revolutions. 
     
     
       12. The harvesting apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said shaker frame together with said drive means has a center of gravity that is approximately coincident with said axis of rotation. 
     
     
       13. The harvesting apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said shaker frame includes a pair of frame sections, said striker members being respectively mounted to frame sections, means for scissorably mounting said frame sections relative to each other, and means for adjustably fixing the relative positions of said frame sections so that said striker members at the ends thereof are at a predetermined fixed spacing from each other. 
     
     
       14. The harvesting apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said drive means comprises a pair of eccentric weight means rotatably mounted to each of said frame sections for rotation about axes that are parallel to and equidistant from said axis of rotation of said shaker frame; and means positively connected to said pair of eccentric weight means for driving the same at the selected speed and at a predetermined phase relation to each other. 
     
     
       15. The harvesting apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said frame sections are adjustably scissorable about a single axis aligned with said axis of rotation of the shaker frame, said means for driving said pair of eccentric weight means including a drive shaft mounted coaxially with said axis of rotation, and endless belt means connecting said drive shaft and each of said eccentric weight means. 
     
     
       16. In a vibratory plant harvester that includes a harvester vehicle having a support frame, a shaker assembly attached to said support frame for shaking the trunk of a plant comprising: a shaker frame, means for mounting said shaker frame to said support frame for rotation about a single axis, said shaker frame including two frame sections that extend outwardly from said axis to a position on either side of the trunk of the plant to be shaken, striker members attached to said frame sections in opposed relation for alternately striking the sides of the trunk, oscillatory drive means isolated from said support frame for pivoting said shaker frame back and forth about said axis to cause said striker members to alternately strike said trunk, said oscillatory drive means being separate and distinct from said striker members and being connected thereto only through said frame sections, said oscillatory drive means including at least two eccentric weight means rotatably mounted to said frame for rotation about axes that are equidistant from and parallel to said axis of rotation of the shaker frame, means positively connected to said eccentric weight means for driving both of said weight means at the same speed and at a predetermined phase relation to each other to cause said shaker frame to alternately rock back and forth dependent on the rotative positions of said eccentric weight means, said two eccentric weight means being mounted to said shaker frame on the opposite sides of said axis of rotation from said striker members such that the center of gravity of said shaker frame and the elements of said drive means directly attached thereto is relatively close to said axis of rotation. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said means for pivotally mounting said shaker frame to said support frame is adapted to permit said shaker frame to rotate about an axis of rotation that is horizontal and that is located above the plant to be harvested, said frame sections being configured to surround the plant to be shaken, and the striker members being elongate and parallel and spaced from the trunk of the plant to be shaken, whereby said plant may be harvested while the harvester is moving. 
     
     
       18. An apparatus for harvesting crops from plants comprising a vehicle of the type having a generally inverted U-shaped frame structure adapted to surround the plant, a shaker frame member pivotally mounted to said vehicle frame structure about an axis extending generally parallel to the path of travel of said vehicle, a striker member secured to the lower end of said shaker frame member and adapted to engage the lower portion of said plant, and vibration producing means comprising a rotating eccentric weight secured to said shaker frame member and isolated from said vehicle frame structure for causing the striker member to be periodically pivoted about said axis into impacting engagement with said plant to shake the crop therefrom said rotating eccentric weight being separate and distinct from said striker member and being connected thereto only through said shaker frame member. 
     
     
       19. An apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said shaker frame member is of a generally inverted U-shape and wherein two striker members are secured to the lower end thereof for alternately impacting said plant on opposite sides thereof. 
     
     
       20. An apparatus according to claim 19 including conveying means mounted on said vehicle below said shaker frame member for receiving and conveying the crop shaken from said plant. 
     
     
       21. An apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said vibration producing means comprises a pair of rotating eccentric weights and means for driving said eccentric weights at a common speed and at a predetermined phase relationship. 
     
     
       22. An apparatus for harvesting crops from plants comprising a vehicle having a frame structure, a shaker frame member pivotally mounted to said vehicle frame structure about a single axis extending generally parallel to the path of travel of the vehicle, a striker member secured to the lower end of said shaker frame member and adapted to engage the lower portion of said plant, and non-positive drive means attached to said shaker frame member for movement therewith for causing the striker member to be periodically pivoted about said axis into impacting engagement with said plant to shake the crop therefrom, said non-positive drive means being separate and distinct from said striker member and being connected thereto only through said shaker frame member. 
     
     
       23. An apparatus according to claim 22 wherein said shaker frame member is of a generally inverted U-shape and wherein two striker members are secured to the lower end thereof for alternately impacting said plant on opposite sides thereof.